Dhaka [Bangladesh], November 17 (HBTV): A Bangladesh court on Monday afternoon found ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina guilty of committing ‘crimes against humanity’ during the July-August uprising in 2024. According to local media, the International Crimes Tribunal-1 has sentenced Hasina to death after finding her guilty on all five charges.
The verdict concludes that Hasina and two other accused — former police chief Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun and former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal — orchestrated and enabled atrocities during the July–August movement, the Dhaka Tribune reported. The Awami League leader, currently in exile in India, was tried in absentia. The 78-year-old fled to New Delhi after her government fell in August 2024.
The tribunal ruled that Hasina committed crimes against humanity under the first charge by issuing incitement orders and failing to take preventive and punitive measures. It further stated that she committed another count of crimes against humanity under the second charge by ordering the use of drones, helicopters and lethal weapons, as cited by Al Jazeera.
Bangladesh Television broadcast the live proceedings as Justice Golam Murtaza, head of the three-member International Crimes Tribunal-1, began reading the verdict on Monday afternoon. The tribunal stated that Hasina had ‘ordered to kill the protesting students’ during the unrest, according to Bangladesh News 24.
The bench, comprising Justice Md Shofiul Alam Mahmud and Judge Md Mohitul Haque Enam Chowdhury alongside Justice Murtaza, entered the courtroom around 9:55 am, with proceedings starting at noon. Former police chief Mamun, the only accused currently in custody, was brought to the court’s lock-up at 9 am; he has pleaded guilty and turned state’s witness.
Hasina and Asaduzzaman are being tried in absentia after being declared fugitives. Both reportedly fled to India following Hasina’s ouster on August 5, 2024. The tribunal indicted the trio on July 10 on five charges, including incitement, instigation and ordering the killing of 1,400 people, ‘superior command responsibility’ and ‘joint criminal enterprise’.
The charges relate to crimes committed during the July 15–August 5, 2024 student-led protests against the government. The formal charge documents span 8,747 pages, containing references, seized evidence and a detailed list of victims, the Dhaka Tribune reported.
Prosecutors alleged that Hasina made inflammatory remarks at a July 14, 2024 press conference at Ganabhaban, which was followed by systematic attacks on students and civilians by law enforcement and ruling-party activists. The tribunal examined whether Hasina, Kamal and Mamun instigated, supported or allowed these assaults, and whether they failed to prevent or punish murder, attempted murder and torture during the crackdown.
The former prime minister is accused of ordering the use of helicopters, drones and live ammunition, with Kamal and Mamun allegedly relaying and enforcing these directives through their chain of command. Prosecutors said this amounted to crimes against humanity through orders, abetment and conspiracy.
The charges also include the July 16, 2024 shooting death of student activist Abu Sayeed near Begum Rokeya University. The prosecution claimed the killing followed directives from senior political and security leadership. On August 5, 2024, six students were shot dead in the Chankharpul area of Dhaka during a law enforcement action. Hasina, Kamal and Mamun have been charged with responsibility for the operation.
On the same day in Ashulia, six people were shot; five bodies were burned, and the sixth person, reportedly still alive, was allegedly burned alongside them. Prosecutors said the killings were carried out with the knowledge and approval of the accused.
Defence lawyer Md Amir Hossain rejected the allegations as ‘false and fabricated’, arguing that there is no documentary evidence proving that Hasina ordered any killings and that a ‘separate group’ carried out the violence that destabilised the country, according to the Dhaka Tribune. (ANI)